Best of 2012! – GTKY Sessions

I hand selected several photographs from thousands that we have from this past year’s GTKY sessions. It was an incredible year and I will be writing underneath the photographs explaining why I love them.

This photograph was taken with black and white 35mm film. I typically shoot medium format film, but I wanted to play with one of my old Canon film cameras. It really is the simplicity in the photograph that I love. It is a gentle hold of his hand and I love that she has her other hand there to hold herself back which offers a sense of shyness. It is so simple and yet it has a way of speaking to me.
This couple is super fun and really down to play around and get dirty. I love the colors in this photo and how she has a small rim light on her hair. It is a symetrical composition and the background really helps. We changed up their GTKY session idea at the last minute because it was beautifull outside and the carnival just happened to be in town. The couple is from NY and they told me carnivals are just not like this up there in the summer. They are usually in a small empty lot, not like the larger dirt ones they have in South Jersey!
Adrienne was a trooper for getting up on this awkward fire hyrdant in philly with her huge heels. Another couple that is super fun and down to earth.
At the end of their session as we were walking back to our cars I heard this drum line walking a block up and flagged them down to Photobomb their session. It was awesome because it was a completely organic moment and absolutely fun.
I love being able to incorporate dogs into the GTKY sessions. This couple was really into having a good time and their dog had so much energy. The couple had forgot the leash for the dog so we had to use some string that he had in his car.
I love photographing with my infrared camera. This was great because they hate the typical “broad street photographs” that they saw, but on this particular day the clouds were amazing and I said, ” Let’s try this photograph with a different perspective.” They loved this and have a Canvas Wall Art piece hanging in their home.
We just happened to book their session on Chadd’s 30th birthday so I got them a cake and lolipops that said 3 and 0 on them. He was like a little kid housing the cake at Fairmount Park on the grass.
This one scene was special to James and Deanna becase this was where they sat and had dinner on their first date together.
Dominique and Brad had an awesome GTKY session in Wildwood. I wanted to shoot most of the session in B/W film to give it more of a vintage look and they found amazing old beach cruisers for the session. She was a bit nervous before we started shooting so I just said ride around and have fun for like 5 minutes and they had a great session.
Square format photographs are my favorite as I love the composition in them. This was one of the last frames that I photographed from their session. It was shot with a Holga using b/w medium format film.
I love love love this couple. She is on the shy side and he in able to bring out her adventurous side. Together they are absolutely perfect. We did most of their session in the Please Touch Museum and afterwards I took them out onto the grounda to capture some awesome shots amongst all of the Cherry Trees that has just blossomed.
This was a very unique multigenerational pendant that she wore. It actually folded into a tiny ball that she wore around her neck. It was beautifull!
I wanted them to get their “James Bond” on in this session. It was about 95 degrees and humid so we ended their session with a water gun fight and they loved me for it. I surprised them and bought a a few toy waterguns to use.
Grounds for Scultpure is an amazing location to photograph. This was an infrared photograph and I love it because of the simple composition. The tree branches seemed to be pointing at the couple which added a unique touch to the photo.
I love this session! They knew each other when they were younger, and their paths were meant to cross again later in life. They passed each other while going home from work one day and then he messaged her on FB a few days later. It was not hard for us to come up with the prime location for their GTKY session: a train station.. They are getting married this fall.
This was taken on the way out of the train at the end of their session. I got shushed and had no idea we were on the quiet train.
So I love this because we almost got arrested shooting on this train without permission. Even though it was not in service, was closed, and we did not go inside the train at all.
Chris was super fun during out session and was down for whatever craziness that came out. Tushy squeeze!
This is how I like to end a session!
Layla and Chad are awesome! I had a great time going all over Philly with them Photobombing and popping bubbly as you can see below. This photograph was taken with b/w film and it is masculine and shows a comfort at the same time.
It was really windy at the end of their session and this wind was not in Chad’s favor…
Patti & Steve have the cutest pooch and I am an absolute dog lover so I wanted to incorporate their pup in the session. There were thunderstorms rolling in and I was so happy that they held out for their session.

The day was hot, the clouds were sweet, and the train tracks were cool. The clouds are so intense that I feel they balance this composition with my couple. The ivy on the building also wraps around the couple which you can only see in infrared.
I saw this written by an old school in Philly and had to incorporate it. Evan I think really does not love Haterz though…
Tamara and Dustin had such an incredible GTKY session. This was photographed with medium format film. I love the look Tamara gives the camera as she was moving around the wall. The second photograph, with its simple composition, seems like you are staring at the front door of this coulple’s place.